Window channeling



March 9, 1943. R, 1 BUSH 2,313,419

WINDOW CHANNELING Filed OCT.. 10. 1939 GU @QH U if 4H l Jj L lNVENTOR Russel/L J. Bush Fi 3.7 /7 BY mw f )pe ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW CHANNELING Russell J. Bush, Wabash, Ind.,` assig'nor to The General Tire & Rubber Company-,.Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 10, 1939, Serial No. 298,824

6 Claims. (CI. 296-445) 'Ihis invention relates to flexible channeling for sealing the edges of glass windows and the like. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the core employed in such channeling for strengthening the same and retaining the shape thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved window channel which is of increased rigidity and strength and has increased resistance against being distorted from its formed shape.

Another object is to provide a core for window channeling which has increased resistance to deformation,

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a window channeling core having a multiplicity f flexible metal members joined by connecting elements which control the deformation of the metal members during deformation of the channeling. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of a suitable embodiment of the invention made in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts throughout the several views are indicated by the same numerals of reference.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved window channeling showing the same bent in an ogee curve and with portions of the reinforcing core exposed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a section of metal strip used in making a core and showing the appearance of the same before the beads are formed thereon and before being bent to channel form;

Fig. 3 is a View showing the appearance of the back of a section of the core when the same is deformed in the direction indicated by the portion of channeling at A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a View of one side of the section of channel core shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View showing the back of a section of the core when the same is bent in the manner indicated at B of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a view of one side of the section of core shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line l-'I of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the bead to show the interlocking of the rubber through the slits or windows in the metal core.

The core of the present invention comprises a series of relatively thin flexible metal straps l, each bent in the form of a U and disposed in side by side relation to form a U-shaped channel having spaced apart substantially parallel side wall portions and a bottom portion extending between side wall portions. The ends of the straps I are secured to a pair of spaced parallel beads 3 and 4 which extend longitudinally of the channel strip. A preferred method of making the reinforcing core may be readily understood from a consideration of Fig. 2 which shows a short section of the flat metal strip used to form the core. The strap members I are defined by long and short slits or apertures 5 and 6, respectively, which are stamped or otherwise formed in the thin metal strip. The slits do not extend through the marginal edges of the metal strip, so that continuous bead forming marginal edges 'l and 8 are provided which are integral with the straps I and retain the latter in predetermined spaced apart parallel relation with the slits 5 and 6 separating adjacent straps. The marginal portions 'I and 8 are then rolled into the beads 3 and Il, preferably around bead wires 9 which increase the tensile properties of the core. After the formation of the beads, right angle bends are formed longitudinally of the strip along the spaced parallel lines indicated at IIJ and I I, thus forming the bottom and spaced side portions of the core.

Each of the strap members I is connected to the adjacent strap members by connecting elements I and i5 which are preferably integral with the straps and are disposed between the short and long slits 5 and B. As shown in Fig. 2, the connecting elements I4 are disposed along the bending line I0, while the connecting elements i5 are disposed approximately along the bending line I I. Thus, between each adjacent pair of strap members i, there is disposed a long slit 5 and a short slit I arranged on opposite sides of the connecting elements I4 and I5. The connecting elements are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the core, so that although each strap member I is connected to each of the adjacent strap members intermediate their ends, a continuous line of connection is not formed longitudinally of the core. For example, the connection between one of the strap members and the strap adjacent thereto on one side is by a connecting element Ill on the bending line I0, while the connection of the same strap to the other adjacent strap is by a connecting element I 5 on the bending line Il. When the core is bent to the U-shaped form shown in Fig. 1, the long slits 5 extend between adjacent strap members from one bead adjacent one edge thereof through one side of the core and terminate adja cent the other side of the core. The alternating arrangement of the connecting elements Il and I5 provides one series of transverse slits which extend from adjacent one edge of the core thr ugh one side thereof and terminate adjacent the other side, in combination with another series of transverse 'slits which extend from adjacent the other edge of the core through the said other side thereof and terminate adjacent the iirst named side of the core.

Soft covering material is appliedgaround the core to form a cushion for the edge of window glass and the like. Preferably,L rubber is employed for this purpose and may be applied thereto by passing the core through a suitable tubing machine before or after thesame is bent along the lines I and Il. In this manner the core may be coated with rubber body I8 which is interlocked through the slits and 6 and entirely surrounds the beads l and l sothat the latter are embedded therein, as shown in Fig. 7. If desired, a suitable covering material such as tufted fabric, indicated at l1. may be applied over the beads to protect the same against wear and mutilation.

An improved feature of the core of the present invention is its resistance to deformation. The relatively narrow connecting elements Il and I5 tie the adjacent strap portions together so that in bending or forming the channel around a window contour, not only must the beads 3 and 4 be bent, but a certain distortion must be imparted to the straps I. This distortion is indicated in Figs. 3 through 6. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the distortion of the core when the window channeling is bent so as to be concave on its open face; for example, as indicated at A of Fig. 1. When subjected to such bending the back of the channel strip has a greater radius of curvature than the beads 3 and 4. In order to compensate for the increasing length the strap portions I move away from one another so as to widen the long slits 5. Each strap member I is held against movement toward or away from one of its neighboring strap members by the connecting elements Il along the bent line III and is held against movement toward or away from its other neighboring strap member by the connecting elements I5 along the bent line il. `'Ihe result of the restrictions to movement imposed upon the strap members I by the connecting elements I4 and and I5 is to cause the transverse slits 5 to become tapered or wedge shaped across the back of the core, as shown in Fig. 3, while the strap members I are disposed in a diagonal relation across the back oi.' the core.

Along the sides of the bent core the portions oi the strap members which are disposed on opposite sides of the short slits 6 remain in approximately parallel relation to one another, while the portions o! the long slits 5 Vdisposed in the side walls of the channel core become wedge shaped and the adjacent portions of the straps diverge from one another away from the beads.

Fig. 5 shows the character of deformation imparted to the core when the window channeling is bent so that the open face thereof is convex substantially as indicated at B of Fig. l. When subjected to such deformation the radius of curvature of the back of the core is less than along the beads. The resulting decrease in length is compensated by a crowding together of the portions of the strap members I which are disposed across the back of the core. In this crowdingv action the connecting elements I4 and I5 prevent movement of certain portions of the strap memtransversely deformed and become diagonally disposed. Also, the portions of the long slits 5 in the bottom and side walls of the core become wedge shaped, tapering toward the bends I0 and I I as the case may be.4

Fig. 6 shows the appearance of al side wall oi' the core when the same is bent as shown in Fig. 5. The connecting elements between the straps retain the portions of the latter on opposite sides of the short slits 6 in approximately parallel relation to one another, while the portions of the straps on opposite sides of the slits 5 converge toward one another.

The increased rigidity imparted to the channel core by the connecting elements I 4 and I5 enables the core to resist being deformed from the shape imparted thereto in building the channel into a structure such as an automobile window. Therefore, the durability and strength of the channel is materially increased. Furthermore, the -connecting elements being disposed along the bending lines oi the core strengthen the latter so 'as to more effectively resist blows or lateral force applied to the channel along these Walls.

'I'he principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated. substitution of parts and'changes in construction being rebers toward one another, so that the straps are sorted to as desired, it being understood that the embodiment shown in the drawing and described above is given merely for purposes of explanation andv illustration without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details disclosed.

What I claim is:

l. A i'lexible core for glass channeling comprising a pair of spaced beads, a series of thin metal straps extending integrally across the core between the beads and bent to cooperatively define an open channel having base and side wall portions, and connecting elements extending between successive straps, said elements being discontinuous over the major part of the base and being disposed alternately on opposite sides of the core.

2. In a flexible window channel having a sheet metal core comprising U shaped straps extending transversely across the structure and in spaced apart relation, the improvement which comprises a series of staggered connecting elements integral with the straps and joining each strap with adjacent straps at spaced apart points to prevent relative movement of the straps toward and away from one another atv such points upon bending of the channel in adapting the same to a window contour.

3. A window guide comprising a generally channel shaped sheet-metal core having a bottom and sides angularly disposed thereto and including a pair of longitudinally extending spaced parallel bead portions, said core consisting of a series of generally U shaped straps disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another and having their ends connected to the beads to provide open slots between adjacent straps, relatively narrow bendable metal connecting elements extending between successive straps and disposed adjacent the angles between the bottom and the sides, said elements being located alternately at opposite sides of the bottom so that each slot has one portion continuous across substantially the entire bottom and only one side of the core and another portion disposed wholly in a side of vthe channel between one of the elements and one of the beads, and resilient cushioning material enveloping said core member and extending through the slots to interlock the cushioning material and the core.

4. A window guide comprising a generally channel shaped sheet metal core having a bottom and sides angularly disposed thereto and including a pair of longitudinally extending spaced parallel bead portions, said core consisting of a series of generally U shaped straps disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another and having. their ends connected to the beads to provide open slots between adjacent straps, integral connecting elements extending between adjacent straps, said elements between successive straps being disposed adjacent the angles between the bottom and the sides and alternately at opposite sides so that each slot is continuous across substantially the entire bottom and only one side of the core, and resilient cushioning material enveloping said core and extending through the open slots to interlock the cushioning material and the core, whereby in bending the guide around a window contour the bottom strap portions are moved to angular positions relative to one another.

5. A window guide comprising a generally channel shaped sheet metal core member having integral side and bottom walls and a pair of spaced parallel continuous beads along the free edges of the side walls, portions of the side andI bottom walls being removed to provide one series of approximately parallel open slots which extend from adjacent one bead, across' one side wall and the bottom wall and terminate adjacent the angle between the bottom wall and the other side wall, and to provide another series of approximately parallel open slots which alternate with the slots of said one series and which extend from adjacent the other bead, across the other side wall and the bottom wall and terminate adjacent the angle between the bottom Wall and said oneside wall, and resilient cushioning material enveloping said core member and extending through the slots to interlock the cushioning material and the core.

6. .A window guide comprising a generally channel shaped sheet metal core having a bottom wallv and integral side walls angularly disposed thereto, portions of the walls being removed to provide one series of approximately parallel open slots which extend continuously across one side Wall and the bottom wall and `terminate adjacent the angle between the bottom wall and the other side wall, and to provide another series of approximately parallel open slots which alternate with the slots of said one series and which extend across the other side wall and the bottom wall and terminate adjacent the angle between the bottom wall and said one side wall, and resil`.

ient cushioning material enveloping said core and extending through the slots to interlock the cushioning material and the core.

RUSSELL J. BUSH. 

